JPH031893A - Data creation device for embroidery sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention includes 1. A relative movement is generated between the needle and the workpiece based on needle position data indicating the relative position between the needle that is moved up and down and the workpiece, or data related to the needle position, and embroidery is performed on the workpiece. The present invention relates to a data creation device for an embroidery sewing machine that forms patterns.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as this type of data creation device, for example, the device described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 198375/1983 is known. In this writing technique, a drawing containing the original drawing to be embroidered is pasted on a tablet board, the operator imagines multiple closed regions that will divide the original drawing, and then selects multiple points on the outline of the envisioned closed regions. By specifying with a cursor, the outline of a closed area is set and stored, and needle position data for embroidery stitching is calculated for each closed area set and stored.

This calculation method of needle position data is to sequentially find the intersection points of the contour line of the closed area and a predetermined straight line by moving the straight line in parallel, and sequentially select the intersection points to obtain the needle position data.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-132690 discloses that an embroidery original is imaged with a television camera or the like, the image is displayed on a CRT, and while viewing the displayed image, the operator uses a light ben or the like to select arbitrary points on the outline of the image. After specifying the outline and setting the outline, divide the embroidery image into polygonal closed areas by specifying dividing lines using a light bevel, etc., and then save the position data such as the vertices of the closed areas. A technique has been disclosed for sequentially calculating and creating data (referred to as block data) related to the needle position. Thereafter, needle position data indicating the actual needle position is calculated based on the block data and preset stitch density data.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In all of the above-mentioned conventional devices, an operator imagines a closed area that divides an embroidery pattern, and in order to set and memorize the closed area, the operator sets coordinate points such as vertices of the closed area. This is specified using a cursor, light bar, etc.

Once the closed area is set, the data creation device calculates and creates the needle position.

However, the closed area must be manually set according to the shape of the embroidery pattern, and the setting work is troublesome and time-consuming.

Further, the shape of the closed area set by the operator must be such that the needle position can be calculated, and skill is required to set the closed area. This means that when the shape of the closed area set by the operator is approximately U-shaped, for example, in the former conventional device, the intersection of the outline of the closed area and the straight line moved parallel to the seam forming direction is 3. This is because the needle position calculation may become impossible if the number exceeds the point.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to line up the long side or short side of the embroidery pattern within the continuous arbitrary shape outline of the embroidery pattern. A data creation device for an embroidery sewing machine that can automatically create needle position data or data related to the needle position for performing embroidery sewing with a direction intersecting the side direction at a predetermined angle as the stitch formation direction. Our goal is to provide the following.

In order to achieve the object, the present invention includes a first storage means for storing contour data of a given embroidery pattern, and a calculation based on the contour data with the long side or short side direction of the embroidery pattern as a reference direction. a reference direction determining means for dividing the embroidery pattern into a plurality of closed regions by dividing lines that intersect at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference direction based on the contour data and the reference direction; a first calculating means for calculating closed area contour data shown; and calculating needle position data or data related to the needle position for embroidering the closed area based on the closed area contour data and the extending direction of the dividing line segment. and a second storage means for storing data calculated by the second calculation means.

[Operation] In the present invention, when the outline data of the embroidery pattern is stored in the first storage means, the reference direction determining means calculates the long side or short side direction of the embroidery pattern as the reference direction based on the outline data. The first calculation means divides the embroidery pattern into a plurality of parts based on the outline data and the reference direction by dividing lines and minutes that intersect at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference direction, and calculates the outline of the divided closed area. needle position data or data related to the needle position for embroidering the closed area based on the closed area outline data and the direction in which the dividing line segment extends; Calculate. The second storage means stores data calculated by the second calculation means.

As a result, from only the outline data of the embroidery pattern to be embroidered, needle position data for embroidering the embroidery pattern with the stitch formation direction in a direction that intersects the long side or short side at a predetermined angle. Alternatively, data related to the needle position is automatically created.

[Embodiment 1] An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a multi-needle type embroidery sewing machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The sewing machine arm 1 is disposed on a table 2, and a needle bar support case 3 is supported at its front end so as to be movable along the direction of arrow X in FIG.

The five needle bars 4 are each supported by the support case 3 so as to be movable up and down, and each needle 5 is detachably attached to the lower end thereof. Different types of thread are supplied to each needle from a thread supply source (not shown) via a thread tension device 6 and thread take-up 7 on the needle bar support case 3. A needle selection motor 8 is disposed on the sewing machine arm 1 and is drivingly connected to the needle bar support case 3.

When a predetermined needle bar selection signal is input to the needle selection motor 8, the needle selection motor 8 moves the needle bar support case 3 to select and arrange one needle 5 at a predetermined use position. .

The sewing machine motor 9 is disposed at the rear of the sewing machine arm 1, and its power is transmitted to the needle bar 4 in the use position through a power transmission mechanism (not shown) in the sewing machine arm 1, causing the needle bar 4 to move up and down. be done. A sewing machine bed 10 is protruded from the sewing machine table 2 opposite to the needle bar 4 disposed in the use position, and has a thread loop catcher ( (not shown) is built-in. Said needle5. A seam forming means is constituted by a thread loop catcher and the like.

A pair of Y-direction moving frames 11 (only one shown) is disposed on both left and right edges of the sewing machine table 2 so as to be able to reciprocate in the Y-direction, and is driven by a Y-square drive motor (not shown). Further, a support rod 12 is installed between both moving frames 11. The X-direction moving frame 13 is connected to the support rod 12 at its base end.
It is disposed so as to be movable in the X-direction along the X-direction, and is driven by an X-direction drive motor (not shown). A holding frame 14 serving as a holding means is attached to the X-direction moving frame 13, and detachably holds the workpiece W to be sewn.

In addition, the relative position between the holding frame 14 and the needle 5 is changed in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle 5 by the X- and Y-direction moving frame 11.1B, the support rod 12, and the Y- and X-direction drive motors. A feeding device 15 is configured, and an embroidery stitch pattern is formed on the workpiece W by relative movement between the holding frame 14 and the needle 5.

Next, the electrical configuration of the embroidery sewing machine in this embodiment will be explained.

An operation keyboard 18 is connected to the interface 36 of the central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 17, and the operation keyboard 18 has data creation keys 20. Needle position data creation key 21. Block data creation key 22. Sewing order setting window mode key 23, contour point large key 24. Closed area division command key 25, sewing start key 26. A reference direction designation key 29 and the like are provided. Also, the needle selection motor 8. is connected to the interface 36 via drive circuits 39-41. Sewing machine motor9. Work cloth feeding devices 15 are connected to each. Furthermore, the interface 36 has a CR
A CRT 35 is connected via the T drive circuit 34, and the CRT
A light bevel 37 for specifying an arbitrary point on the image display surface of 35 is connected via a position detection circuit 38.

Further, a television camera 30 and an image sensor 31 for capturing an image of an embroidery original are connected to the CPU 17 via a video interface 33, respectively. CPU1
7 includes a program memory 42 in which the operation program is stored, a readable and writable working memory 43 mainly constituting the first and second storage means, and created needle position data or data related to the needle position. An external storage device 16 for storing data (hereinafter referred to as block data), original embroidery images captured by a television camera 30, etc., and position data of points on the CRT display screen instructed by the light ben 37. Image memory to remember 4
4 is connected.

Next, regarding the case of creating needle position data or block data for embroidering the embroidery pattern shown in FIG. 7, the steps in FIGS. The operation of the CPU 17 will be explained with reference to a flowchart.

First, the given embroidery pattern has one continuous contour line of an arbitrary shape, and the data creation device intersects the inside of the contour line at a predetermined angle with respect to the long side or short side direction of the embroidery pattern. The operator sets the embroidery original image, activates the television camera 30 or the image sensor 31, and creates the needle position data or block data for sewing the embroidery with the stitch forming direction set as the stitch forming direction. When the data creation key 20 is turned on after turning on the data creation key 21 or block data creation key 22, the CPU 17 starts operating according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(C). Note that the needle position data creation key 21
When turned on, the needle position data creation flag becomes "1".

The CPU 17 displays the image of the embroidery original from the television camera 30 or the image sensor 31 on the CRT 35, and stores the image data in the image memory 44 (step 5100). After this, the operator selects an arbitrary point Ti on the outline of the embroidery image while looking at the image displayed on the CRT 35.
with the light ben 37 and press the contour point large oyster 24.

Then, the CPU 17 obtains the position data of the point Ti specified by the light ben 37, stores it in the working memory 43 as contour point data, and also stores the position data in the image memory 44 (step 5102). As the operator repeats this operation sequentially along the contour line, contour point data is stored. At this time, the working memory 43 stores the point sequence T shown in FIG. ,...,Ti,...
,Tn.

..., Tm is the embroidery closed area A. Each point is connected with a straight line or curved line and displayed on the CRT35.
will be displayed.

When the operator turns on the reference direction setting key 29, the CPU 1
7, in step 8103, the working memory 43
The contour point data is read out from the point sequence TO+ . . . , Ti indicated by the contour point data.

..., search all pairs of contour points that can be combined from Tn, and assume a pair of perpendicular lines to the straight line that has the longest distance between the pair of contour points and that passes through each pair of contour points and connects the contour points. Then, select the contour points (pair of contour points) in which all other contour points are located between the rain perpendicular lines. The direction of the straight line passing through the selected pair of contour points becomes the long side direction of the closed area (embroidery pattern) indicated by the contour point data. On the other hand, in this step 8103, the distance between the contour points is the minimum,
In addition, when we assume a pair of perpendicular lines to a straight line that passes through a pair of contour points and connects the contour points, if we select a line in which all other contour points are located between the perpendiculars (a pair of contour points), it is closed. The direction is the short side of the area.

The CPU 17 sets and stores the long side direction or the short side direction as a reference direction, and calculates the angle θ formed between the reference direction and the X axis of the XY coordinate system that defines the contour point data.

The CPU 17 waits for the closed area division command key 25 to be turned on (
Step 5104), when the key 25 is turned on, the contour data is read from the working memory 43 and each contour point is
The angle θ is adjusted such that the reference direction coincides with the X-axis direction.
The rotational coordinates of are converted and stored in the working memory 43 (step 5105).

In the following description, contour point data subjected to rotational coordinate conversion will be simply referred to as contour point data for convenience of explanation. Furthermore, the stitch forming direction in this embodiment is perpendicular to the long side direction of the embroidery pattern.

The CPU 17 subdivides the closed region (A in this case).

Sequentially read out the contour data TO+..., Tm, and select each point "O+..., the point T where the X-axis component of Tm is maximum.
n (taken as the max point) and the point T where the X-axis component is the minimum.

(m i n points) is determined (step 5106).

After this, the CPU 17 processes the contour data 'ro, os, Tm
Based on, one of the two paths from the min point to the max point (To, ..., Ti.

..., Tn) as the upper outline point sequence Ui,
The remaining other (To, ..., Tm, ...Tn)
is set as the lower outline point sequence di (step 5
108, SIIO). Then, the cpU 17 moves to a closed region subroutine 5200 to be described later, and if the closed region is divided into two in this subroutine, the next step 51
12.

In addition, in the closed region subroutine 5200, the CPU1
7, when a given closed area cannot be divided into two, a closed area subdivision end flag is stored in the working memory 43 along with contour point data for the closed area.

In step 5112, the CPU 17 performs the steps 5106 to SIIO, S
200 is repeated, and when it is completed, the subdivided closed area is displayed as an image on the CRT 35 (step 5114).
.

Here, the closed region subroutine 5200 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b).

First, it should be noted that this subroutine is for subdividing the closed region until calculations can be made in the needle position data creation routine (step 5122) and block data creation routine (step S124), which will be described later. I want to be

The CPU 17 sets the X component Uxi of the upper outline point sequence to m
The size is determined sequentially from the in point to the max point, and the Ux
Points where i > Ux 1-1-1 (referred to as division candidate points)
is searched for (step S210). Closed area A in Figure 7
. In this case, the point Ui is found.

When this division candidate point does not exist in the upper outline point sequence,
Similar to step 5210, the CPU 17 searches for a division candidate point in the lower outline point sequence (step 5230). When this division candidate point does not exist in the lower outline point sequence, the CPU 17 determines that the given closed region cannot be divided, in other words, it is possible to perform calculations in the needle position data creation routine and the block data creation routine, and The subdivision end flag is stored in working memory 4 along with the contour point data.
3 and proceeds to step 5114 (step S
240).

In step 5210, when it is determined that there is a division candidate point in the upper outline point sequence, the division candidate point (point Ui in FIG. 8) and the previous point (point Ui- in FIG. 8) are separated. 1) A straight line passing through! , it is determined whether the point after the division candidate point (point Ui++ in FIG. 8) is located above along the Y-axis direction 1q (step 5211), and if the determination is affirmative, the division candidate point is through Y
A straight line parallel to the axis ((straight line in Figure 8: x-Uxi)
Among the points of intersection between P and the outline of the closed region, a point P which is above the dividing candidate point and closest to the dividing candidate point is found (Step 5
212). After this, the CPU 17 divides the closed region into candidate points (
Line segment Uip connecting point Ui) in FIG. 8 and the point P
In Fig. 9, the closed area Ao is divided into two parts by the closed area A1.
and A2), the contour point data of the divided closed region is calculated and stored in the working memory 43 (steps 3213, S214). For example, closed region A in FIG.
The contour point data of 1 is Ton・Fist a Ti.

P,...Tn, and the contour point data of closed area A2 is T
t, Tl+l r T1+2+ ”・Fist P.

On the other hand, in the case of a negative determination in step 5211,
The CPU 17 cancels the designation of the point obtained in step 5210 (for example, the point Ui on the outline of the closed region B in FIG. 10) as the division candidate point. This is because the closed region Bo cannot be divided by the straight line X-Uxi in FIG. After this, the CPU 17 moves the X
The components Uxk are compared sequentially, and the point where the change in the X component changes from decreasing to increasing, that is, the point where Uxk<Uxk-z (first
The point Uk in Figure 0) is determined as a division candidate point (step 5215). After this, the CPU 17 selects a line that passes through the division candidate point (Uk) and the point (Uk-+) one point before that point (straight line f in FIG. 10), and the division candidate point (Uk). Step S216)
, when located below, among the intersections of the straight line (X-Ukx) passing through the division candidate point (Uk) and parallel to the Y axis and the outline of the closed region, the division candidate that is above the division candidate point and is the most division candidate. An intersection q close to the point is calculated and found (step S217). Thereafter, the CPU divides the closed region into two by the line segment connecting the division candidate point and the intersection q, and stores the contour point data of each of the two divided closed regions in the working memory 43 (step 5218
．． S21). Therefore, for example, the closed area Bo shown in FIG. 10 becomes the closed area B+ as shown in FIG. 11.

It is divided into B2.

By the way, in the case of a negative determination in step 5216, the CPU 17 cancels the designation of the point obtained in step 5215+:l: as a division candidate point, and returns to step 5210. In this case, the determination in step 5210 is made from the point in the upper outline point sequence that is one point after the division candidate point found in step 5215. An example of a case in which a negative determination is made in step 5216 is the closed region C shown in FIG. 12, for example. In the case of this closed region co, the step 521
A negative determination is made in step 5211 for the division candidate point Ue obtained after returning to 0, and a negative determination is made in step 5216 for the division candidate point Um subsequently determined. For the first time, an affirmative determination is made in step 5211, and as a result, the closed region co is divided into a closed region C1 and a closed region C2 by a line segment UsP passing through the division candidate point Us and the point P (see FIG. 13). ) Thus, for the upper outline, step 821
0 to S219, even objects of any shape are subdivided.

Next, when there is no point at which the change in the X value changes from increasing to decreasing even though the determination in step 5210 has been made up to the max point for the upper outline of the given closed region, the CPU 17 performs the step Processing steps 8231 to 8239 similar to steps 8210 to 219 are performed for the lower outline obtained in step 5110. However, regarding steps 5231, 32B2, S236, and S237, the corresponding steps 5211, S212, and S21
6.5217, so only that part is shown in Figure 4(b)
Explain with reference to.

In step 8231, the CPU 17
The division candidate point di obtained in step 230 and 1 from that point di.
The division candidate point di
Point di+ one point after.

is located below along the Y axis. When an affirmative determination is made in step 8231, the C, PU 17 selects a point below the division candidate point di among the intersections between the straight line (X-dxi) passing through the division candidate point di and parallel to the Y axis and the outline of the closed region. Also, find the point P closest to the point di (step 52B
2). In this case, for example, the closed area B shown in FIG.
1 corresponds.

This closed area B1 is divided into two by the line segment "T", and is divided into closed areas B3+B4.

On the other hand, in the case of a negative determination in step 8231,
In step 8235, the CPU 17 determines the point dk at which the X value of the lower outline point sequence changes from decreasing to increasing as a division candidate point, and in step 5236, determines the division candidate point dk.
It is determined whether a point dk+, which is one point after the point dk, is located above the point dk-, which is one point before the point dk, along the Y axis than a straight line passing through the point k and the point dk-, which is one point before the point. In the case of a negative determination in this step 8236, the CPU 17
Returning to , in the case of an affirmative judgment, among the intersections between the straight line (X-dxk) parallel to the Y axis passing through the division candidate point dk and the outline of the closed region, below the division candidate point dk and at the point dk. Find the nearest point q.

In this way, for the bottom outline, step 8
230-8239, subdivision is performed even for objects of any shape.

That is, by repeating steps 5106 to SIIO and S200, for example, the closed area Ao is changed to the closed area A1. A
The closed region B is divided into two parts. is the closed region B2°B3. B,
divided into

When the subdivision of the closed region is completed, the CPU 17 causes the CRT 35 to display all the obtained closed regions (step 511).
4) Proceed to the sewing order determination routine 5115. In this routine 5115, the operator presses the sewing order setting window mode key 23, operates the light bevel 37 to specify the displayed closed area, and stores the sewing order for each closed area in the work memory 43.
to be memorized.

Thereafter, the CPU 17 determines whether the needle position data creation flag is "1" or not (Step 5120); if the determination is affirmative, the CPU 17 proceeds to the needle position data creation routine (Step 5122); if the determination is negative, the CPU 17 proceeds to the block data creation routine. Proceed to (step S124).

In this needle position data creation routine, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 14, the CPU 17 reads the contour point data for each closed area according to the determined sewing order (step 300), and the contour point data to min point and m
Find the ax point (step 5301), and further find its min
Upper outline the two outlines from the point to the max point.

The lower outline is obtained (step 5302).

After that, the CPU 17 sets a straight line V (X-Uxo) passing through the min point and parallel to the Y axis (step 5303), and also sets a movement amount α according to the preset stitch density.
Then, the straight line V (X-Uxq) is moved in parallel toward the max point. The intersection points of this straight line with the upper outline and the lower outline are determined every time the straight line (X-Ux□) is moved in parallel from the min point to the max point, and are sequentially stored in the working memory 43 as needle position data ( Steps 8304-S307). In this way, needle position data for sewing closed areas is created for each closed area (
Step 3308).

Next, the block data creation routine (step 5124
．． Fig. 6) will be explained. The CPU 17 reads contour point data of the closed area from the working memory 43 in accordance with the sewing order (step 5350), and as shown in FIG. Find the maximum point Tn as the max point (step S
351) One of the two routes from the min point to the max point is the upper outline point sequence Uo, U+ T ・e *Ui,
e a aUn, and the other as the lower outline point sequence ddm,...dn (step 535
2゜See Figure 16).

After this, the CPU 17 executes the upper outline point sequence (Uo l U I +...Ui
, . . . Un) passing through each point parallel to the Y axis, find the intersection of each straight line with the lower outline, and add the intersection to the lower outline point sequence (Step S 3
53). Next, as shown in FIG.
, . . . dn) and parallel to the Y axis, find the intersection of each straight line with the upper outline, and add the intersection to the upper outline point sequence (step 5354). At this time, the number of data in the upper outline point sequence and the number of data in the lower outline point sequence become the same.

After this, the CPU 17 connects the points on the upper outline and the points on the lower outline in a large number from the min point to the max point as shown in FIG. Blocks 00 to Gn are set, and points on the upper outline and points on the lower outline representing the vertices of each block are alternately stored as block data in the working memory 43 (steps 8355 to 3358).

For example, the block data of block Gi becomes point Ui -> point di - point ui+, -> point di4-1. In this way, the closed region is further divided into a large number of blocks GO-Gn2, and the vertices of each block are created as block data.

After the needle position data creation routine (step 5122) is completed, and after the block data creation routine (step S124) is completed, the CPU 17 causes the CRT 35 to display a simulation of the stitch pattern in the case of needle position data, and In the case of data, display all blocks on the CRT 35 (step 5i2B), and
8 to determine whether a correction request signal has been input (
Step 5125). When a correction request signal is input,
Predetermined correction processing (change of block data, etc.) is performed (
Step 5126), when there is no correction request, the block data or needle position data is transferred to step 8103.
A rotational transformation of the angle θ is performed in the opposite direction to the angle θ calculated in step 8127 to convert the data into the coordinate system of the contour data of the embroidery pattern.

Thereafter, the process moves to the needle thread code selection routine 5128, and the needle bar number for each divided closed area is input. thus,
Creation of sewing data consisting of needle thread code, sewing order data, needle position data, or block data for each closed area is completed (sewing mode) Next, the sewing mode will be explained with reference to FIG. 3(C). .

The CPU 17 waits for the sewing start switch 26 to be turned on (step 5150), and reads sewing data from the working memory 43 in response to the turning on.

Reads the needle bar number data included in the sewing data, drives the needle selection motor 8 according to the number data,
When the needle bar selection is completed, a sewing machine motor drive signal is output (steps 5151, 5152, and 3153).

After outputting the sewing machine motor drive signal, the CPU 17 determines whether the needle position data creation flag is "1" or not (step 51).
54) If the judgment is affirmative, the needle position data is read out for each stitch and the processing cloth feeding device 15 is moved to X.

- The Y pulse motor is driven and controlled to finish the embroidery sewing of the closed area (step S155). At this time, the sewing machine motor 9 is stopped and the thread is trimmed, and it is determined whether there is sewing data for the next closed area (step 5157).
, if there is, the process returns to step 5151; otherwise, the process ends.

On the other hand, if the needle position data creation flag is not "1" in step 5154, block data has been created, so the CPU 17 calculates the position coordinates of the apex and the predetermined stitch density data for each block. The needle position data is calculated and determined from the above in a well-known manner, and the X and Y pulse motors of the workpiece cloth feeding device 15 are driven and controlled based on the needle position data for each stitch to complete the embroidery sewing in block units. , this is repeated until the embroidery of the closed area is completed (step 5156). Thereafter, the presence or absence of sewing data for the next closed area is determined in the same manner as described above, and if there is, the process returns to step 5151, and if not, the process ends.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the embodiment described above, the reference direction is set to be the long side direction of the embroidery pattern, but the reference direction may be set to the short side direction. Further, although the stitch forming direction is set perpendicular to the reference direction, it is also possible to set it in a direction other than the perpendicular direction.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the search for division candidate points was performed from the min point to the max point of the closed area along the X axis, but the search can also be performed in the opposite direction.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when first inputting contour data of a closed area surrounded by continuous contour lines of arbitrary shape, the operator specified points, but instead of It is also possible to employ an automated program that captures an original image with an imaging means and extracts contour data from the image data.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, the present invention allows the reference direction determining means to determine the long side or short side direction of the embroidery pattern from the contour data simply by storing the contour data of the embroidery pattern in the first storage means. Based on the contour data and the reference direction data, the first calculation means calculates the embroidery pattern (closed area represented by the contour data) using a plurality of line segments that intersect at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference direction. The second calculation means calculates the contour data of the divided closed area based on the contour data calculated by the first calculation means and the extending direction of the separation line segment. The needle position data or data related to the needle position for embroidering the closed area is calculated with the extending direction as the stitch forming direction, and the data is stored in the second storage means. .

Therefore, by simply preparing the contour data of a region (closed region) surrounded by one continuous contour line of an arbitrary shape, seams can be formed in a direction that intersects the long side of the closed region at a predetermined angle with the short side direction. Since it is possible to automatically create needle position data or data related to needle position for performing embroidery stitches with a specific direction, it is possible for the operator to calculate the needle position data, unlike in conventional data generators. There is no need to specify a closed region in the shape, the time required for data creation can be significantly shortened, and even an unskilled person can easily create data.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram showing its electrical configuration, Fig. 2 is a three-dimensional perspective view showing a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine, and Figs. 3(a) to 3(c) 4(a) and 4(b) are flowcharts showing the closed region subroutine, and FIG. 5 shows the needle position data creation subroutine. Flowchart, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a block data (data related to needle position) creation subroutine, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing contour data of a closed area AO to be embroidered, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are closed Area Ao
FIGS. 10 and 11 are explanatory diagrams of the subdivision of the closed area Bo to be embroidered, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the subdivision of the closed area C to be embroidered.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the creation of needle position data, and FIGS. 15 to 19 are explanatory diagrams showing the creation of block data. In the figure, 5 is a needle, 15 is a feeding device, 17 is a central processing unit, 30 is a television camera, 31 is an image sensor, 35
is a CRT, 37 is a light bench, 43 is a working memory, A
o (Bo, Co) is the closed area to be embroidered, AI
(A2, etc.) are divided closed regions, and W is a sewing object.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Based on needle position data indicating the relative position between the needle (5) that is moved up and down and the workpiece (W), or data related to the needle position, the needle and the workpiece (W) are determined This is a data creation device for an embroidery sewing machine that generates a relative movement between the two to form an embroidery pattern on a workpiece, and the data creation device generates relative movement between the outlines (A_o, B_o, C_o) of a given embroidery pattern.
first storage means (4) for storing contour data indicating the
3) and a reference direction determining means for calculating based on the contour data, with the long side direction or the short side direction of the embroidery pattern as the reference direction.
17, step S103, etc.), the embroidery pattern is divided into a plurality of closed regions by dividing lines that intersect at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference direction based on the outline data and the reference direction, and a closed region indicating the outline of the closed region is divided into a plurality of closed regions. First calculation means (17, steps S106 to S112, S20) for calculating area contour data
0, etc.), and a second calculation means (17, 1. A data creation device for an embroidery sewing machine, characterized in that it comprises steps S122, S124, etc.) and a second storage means (43) for storing data calculated by the second calculation means.